A judge about to sentence a teen for mugging asked, "What did your parents teach you about treating others with respect?" The teen said, "The subject never came up."

     Will the subject come up in your family? How can parents help their children develop values, avoid the S.A.D. behaviors of sex, alcohol, and drugs, and counter the dangerous examples, attitudes, and temptations of today's multimedia world?

     Here's help. Raising Good Kids in Tough Times, a new book for parents of children 2-12, describes seven crucial habits for parents and includes practical suggestions and dozens of concrete examples. The author is Dr. Roger W. McIntire, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland for 32 years and father of three.

     "These seven habits make the difference between little talks that become arguments or talks that help parent and child grow closer," says Dr. McIntire. "I give parents practical advice on how to answer questions such as "Mom (Dad), can we talk?" as well as what to do when Kelly spills the milk or Alanna wants to stay up late. Theory is fine but what do you do tomorrow when your kids fight at breakfast?

     The book provides help from toilet training to homework and from fussing to dealing with questions about sex, alcohol, and drugs. The habits include listening and teaching well, showing your children you like them, minding your model, using caution with punishment, and keeping your adult perspective.

     Character building, he says, is a part along the way. "Parents have an important role here in helping their child develop the values and principles that lead to self-respect and a happier, more rewarding life."

     The book also covers alternatives to punishment, manipulating "games" children play, parent abuse, parent support groups, and suggestions for single parents.

     Raising Good Kids in Tough Times is available for $14.95 from bookstores, Amazon.com, and directly from the publisher, Summit Crossroads Press, 1-800-362-0985. For more information about the book or the author, visit the publisher's website, www.parentsuccess.com.

For more information, contact:

Eileen Haavik, Mrktg Dir.
Summit Crossroads Press
1-800-362-0985
SumCross@aol.com